Silo unloader apparatus and process

ABSTRACT

SILO-UNLOADING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SILAGE-GATHERING MEANS, AN OPERATIVELY CONNECTED SET OF AIRTIGHT VERTICAL TELESCOPING RIGID CONDUIT MEMBERS, ONE INTERIOR AND ONE EXTERIOR OF THE SILO, WITH AN AIR-MOVING AND A SOLID-GAS-SEPARATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF THE EXTERIOR CONDUIT MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR A CONTINUALLY SMOOTH AND READILY RESTARTED DISCHARGE OF SILAGE THEREFROM AND THE PROCESS OF OPERATION THEREOF.

United States Patent [72] Inventors James Burl Johnson, Jr.

Lubbock; Malcolm Perry Hammond, Plainvlew; Billy Wayne Starnes, Lubbock,Tex. [21 Appl. No. 739,848 [22] Filed June 25, 1968 [45] Patented June28, 1971 [73 Assignee Gifford-Hlll-Western, Inc.

Lubbock, Tex.

[S4] SlLO UNLOADER APPARATUS AND PROCESS 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

(52] US. Cl 302/56, 302/1 1 [51] Int. Cl 865g 53/24 302/56,

[50] FieldolSearch 56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,500,0433/1950 Radke 302/56 2,663,594 12/1953 Dennick 302/56 3,065,996 11/1962Patz et a1. 302/56 3,239,279 3/1966 Skromme et al.... 302/56 3,407,00710/1968 Frassauer 302/56 Primary Examiner-Andres H. NielsenAttorney-Arnold, White & Durkee ABSTRACT: Silo-unloading apparatuscomprising a silagegathering means; an operatively connected set ofairtight vertical telescoping rigid conduit members, one interior andone exterior of the silo; with an air-moving and a solid-gas-separatingmeans operatively connected to the outlet of the exterior conduit meansto provide for a continually smooth and readily restarted discharge ofsilage therefrom and the process of operation thereof.

PATENTED JUH28 IHYI SHEET 1 OF 5 fulm,

ATTORNEY PATENTEUJUN28 l97| SHEET 2 0F 5 J. B. JOHNSON JR M. P HAM/W 0ND8. w STARNES INVEN IORS ATTORNEY PATENTED M28 I97l SHEET 0F 5 J. B.JOHNSON JR.

MP. HAMMOND BW. STARNES INVENTORS ,M/ZW/ 5/ ATTORNEY PATENIED JUN28 l97lSHEET S [If 5 FIGS R MD m mm SONW NMDHN Wm HS BP MB SILO UNLOADERAPPARATUS AND PROCESS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is animprovement of copending application Ser. No. 575,33 l filed Aug. 26,I966, and now Pat. No. 3,407,007 and owned by the assignee of thisapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Field of this Invention is in the fieldof material handling, and, more particularly, a discharging apparatusfor a vertically elongated bin, such as a silo, wherein the structure ofthe discharge carrier and the bin are related to each other.

Description of the Prior Art Unloaders are shown in U.S. Pat. No.2,580,306; details of the walls are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,383,166;the general approach for supporting the unloader from the roof-anddriving the material toward the center as shown in U.S. Pat. No.2,500,043. The most recent development in this field is the smoothsilage unloaders as in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 570,331.

Problem of the Prior Art Silage discharge from a silo after storagedevelops frequent and large (4-inch) diameter balls due to its moisture,stringy and fibrous portions and variations therein, with concomitantvariations in the density of difi'erent small portions of such silageportions. Serious surging problems result in such apparatus which havean air moving means which provides a maximum force and acceleration atthe bottom of a vertically extending closed conduit. As the height of acolumn thereof increases a teeter column develops and provides blockageon increasing load in such a column; this limits the amount of height ofsuch vertical assembly and thus either limits the height of the silo orrequires reconnection of the discharge unit after a limited amount ofvertical movement of the level of silage remaining in the silo. Fansrequire maintenance to avoid clogging and/or to clear after clogging asin starting such apparatus after having operated to unload only a partof the silo.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure of this invention is arranged toprovide for an increasing acceleration of a gaseous suspension of solidnonhomogeneous material in the first, ascending, pipe conduit in acombination of operatively connected ascending and descending conduits.This provides increasing velocity of the suspension as it passes throughthe conduit assembly and avoids the development of slugs of material insuch passage; this arrangement avoids development of a teeter columnwhich collapses on and in a fan located at the bottom of the conduit atthe level of the silage in the silo at least when it is stopped; thusthis apparatus is readily restarted.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is also composed of simpleelements, readily assembled, which reliably provide for operativeconnection between parts thereof notwithstanding changes in level of thesilage in the silo without attention of the operator.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved silo unloaderstructure. Another object of this invention provides improvedcombinations of silo and silo unloadercombination. Yet another object ofthis invention provides an improved process of silo unloading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall longitudinalsectional view of a silo and its unloader according to one embodiment ofthis invention in the position ofthe unloader assembly when the silo isrelatively full and the unloading operation has recently begun.

FIG. 2 is it view tulten as FIG. I in a different position of theunloader assembly, l.e. when the unloading operution is substantiallymore complete.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the silage gatheringassembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gathering assembly shown in zone 4Aof FIG. 7.

FIG. 5 is an overall longitudinal and partly sectional view of anotherembodiment of this invention as seen along the section shown as 5A5B5C5Dof FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse cross-sectional view at plane 6A-6A ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an overall longitudinal sectional view taken along section7A-7A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view in the zoneshown as 8A in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows another position of parts ofembodiment 40.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One embodiment, 20, of silo andunloader apparatus according to this invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3; it comprises a hollow cylindrical wall 22, a base 24, a root 26and an unloading system 28 in operative combination.

Another embodiment, 40, of silo and silo unloader according to thisinvention, is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; it comprises wall 22,base 24, roof 26 and silo unloader 150 in operative combination.

Base 24 comprises a flat central portion, 31, which is used as thesupport for the wall-erection mechanism, and the bottom of the silochamber and an annular ring, 33, continuous with portion 31 which isused to provide support for the wall; the annular ring 33 isofsufficient width to provide support for the weight of the wall. 22thereabove. In the preferred embodiment the width of the annular ring 33is so dimensioned as to provide a maximum ground load of 1,000 poundsper square foot.

The'blocks forming the walls of the silo are held firmly together bytightening cables as 74, and standard tighteners as 75, and a sealingmaterial seals the interstices between the blocks it is firmly adherentto the surface of the blocks and penetrates thereinto; the gumlike massaccommodates to any usual movement of the wall and so maintains a firmairtight watertight cylindrical silo wall, which has airtight doorassemblies as 60,61 and 62.

The roof assembly 26 comprises, in operative combination, a rigid openframe 80, a circular plate 89 and a flexible, airtight watertight roofsurface 82. The roof surface 82 is formed of flexible airtight spiraltubing 83 and includes central air pressure relief valve 75 and issupported on Frame 80. Tubing 83 is formed of an airtight, watertightimperforate flexible plastic tubing wound in a spiral, and forming, withcentral plate 89, a hemispherical dome. The tubing is attached to andsupported by members as 861-864 of the frame and extends from plate 89to plate 881. Surface 82 includes an airtight and watertight sealantbetween the radially adjacent tubing portions and forms a completeairtight, watertight roof surface.

The frame 80 for the roof assembly comprises a plurality of equallyspaced rigid arched vertically extending tubings as 861, 862, 863, 864and 865, each joined to a central upper spider ring 887 and a lowerannular saddle plate 881 all firmly joined to each other. This frame isattached to and supports surface 82. Additionally, a sealant at thebottom of saddle plate 881 provides an airtight seal at the surfacebetween the tubing 83 and that plate and the wall 22 and plate 881.Plate 881 is firmly sealed on wall 22. Ring 887 supports a central plate89.

The roof is shock resistant and flexible, but is, nevertheless entirelyairtight when the exhaust valve 72 is closed. The roof surface 82, wall22 and base portion 31 define the silo chamber 30.

The rigid frame 80 comprises a central platform 87 on which it liftmechanism 133 and motor 137 are supported for control of verticalmovement of a silo gathering assembly below. The plate 89 is circularand firmly located by frame 80 relative to wall 22 and is firmlyattached to and supports a portion 101 of the conduit assembly ofunloader assembly 28.

Platform 87 is firmly attached to and supported on frame 80. Platform 87supports a mechanism 133 for vertical movement and/or support of silogathering assembly 105 in embodiment 20 and ofsilo gathering assembly155 in embodiment 40.

In embodiment 40 of this invention plate 89 is firmly attached to andsupports a portion, 161, of discharge tube assembly 160 of unloaderassembly 150 in that embodiment 40. Plate 89 is imperforate except foropenings therein for its unloader assembly, as 150 or 28, and adistributor assembly as 114 portions of which pass through that plate.

Details of structure of the wall 22 and roof 112 and lift mechanism 133are described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,007.

The operative connection of the air exterior to the silo and theinterior of the silo through the tubing 83 prevents air from theexterior of the silo from contact with the tip portion of the silagethough the pressure in the interior of the silo may vary to become loweror higher than the pressure on the exterior of the silo, eg as due tohourly, daily or weekly barometric pressure changes exterior of the siloand temperature increases within the silo.

The unloader assembly 28 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 100 and,operatively connected at one, inlet, end thereof, a silage gatheringassembly, 105, and, at the other, discharge, end of that conduitassembly, a solid-gas-separator assembly 107, and a fan assembly 108.Conduit assembly 100 comprises a fixed discharge tube 101 exterior towall 22, a movable interior tube 103 and a ballast assembly 104. Each oftubes 101 and 103 has the same internal and external diameter for itsentire length.

The discharge tube 101 is a firm wire-reinforced rubber interiorly opentubing firmly and positively kept open by the reinforcement in theimperforate walls thereof whereby it is prevented from collapsing. Itcomprises a first inlet portion 110, which is located interior of thesilo wall and extends from below the platform 87 to the transition plate89; a second portion 111, which is smoothly curved from one end to theother, and the outer surface of which is attached in an airtight fashionto the outside and inside of the plate 89 and is operatively continuouswith portion 110; and a third portion, 112, continuous with the portion111 and which is afiixed to the top of the sidewall of silo 22 andextends downward to the level of the inlet to separator 107.

While the walls of the tubes 101 and 103 are imperforate along theirlength, the lumen or passages in each of tubes 101 and 103 arecontinuous with each other so that gas and solid material may passtherethrough from one end of assembly 100, to the other. The passage intube opens into the interior of separator unit 107.

Separator 107 has a discharge orifice 113. Discharge orifice 113 islocated at the usual height of about 10 feet above the ground fordischarge of silage into a receptacle 109, such as a truck; thisdischarge opening is accordingly located relatively near to the bottomof the silo as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and below described.

Portion 111 is attached to plate 89 near to the outer edge thereof onthe same side as the portion 112 is located. Portion 110 is attached toplatform 87 at a position slightly displaced from the geometric centerof silo 20 (which center is the longitudinal axis of the right circularcylinder which forms the interior surfaceof wall 22) toward the side ofthe silo near to which portion 1 12 is located.

Tube 103 is a relatively flexible tube which is, nevertheless,sufficiently rigid to maintain its fully open position; in embodiment 20it is made of rubber with wall reinforcing. The outer diameter of tube103 is substantially smaller than the internal diameter of the tube 101.In the exemplary embodiment the tube 103 has an external diameter of 7inches and an internal diameter of 6 inches while the tube 101 has anexternal diameter of 11 inches and an internal diameter of 10 inches.Tube 103 extends from swivel joint 69 atop of assembly 105 into thelumen or conduit channel of the tube 101. The tube 103 has a freelyslidable fit within the lumen or channel of tube 101. In

the upper position of assembly 105, as shown in FIG. 1, the dischargeend 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the lower end of tube101. At the lower position of the apparatus 105, as shown in H0. 2, thedischarge end 116 of the tube 103 is relatively close to the top of thetube portion 112. Tube 103 is maintained relatively parallel to tube 101by the ballast assembly 104; one end of tube 103 is operatively attachedto assembly 104.

The discharge end and orifice 116 of the tube 103, at the uppermostposition of the assembly 105, extends downward only to slightly abovethe lower end of the straight portion tube 101 exterior of the silo 22.The tube 103 thus extends from the top of the silage gathering meansinto the lumen or conduit portion of the exterior or discharge tube 101and effectively and operatively extends thereinto regardless of theposition of the assembly 105. The assembly and the various parts thereofare, accordingly, supported on and cooperate with parts of the silo wall22 and roof 26 assemblies.

Subassembly comprises, in operative combination, an auger 121, a motor123, a counterbalance weight 125, a wheeled frame 127, and a liftingmechanism 133, all attached to frame 127. Frame 127 is a rigid elongatedopen rectangular frame which extends horizontally across an interiordiameter of the silo chamber 30. lt rests, by the wheels as 131 and 132on the silage mass 21 in the silo 20. The auger is supported on thesides of the frame 127 and operatively contacts the silage 21therebelow. The auger is connected to and driven by the sealed electricor a hydraulic motor 123. The motor 123 operates the auger to drive thesilage from the top of the mass 21 into the inlet 102 of the conduit103. A motor 126 (on 127) is operatively connected to and drives thewheels as 131 and 132 of frame 127. The wheels 131 and 132 areoperatively connected to frame 127 and rest on the top of mass 21 andmove the assembly 105 in a rotary path about the central vertical axisof the silo 22 and provide for uniform discharge of the silage from thesilo. A lifting assembly 133 is attached to the frame 127 and to theroof support platform 87. Rollers as 130 and 130' on frame 127 contactthe inner surface of wall 22. Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanismgenerally as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,056; a motor as 137 onplatform 87 serves to raise or lower cables as 138' and 138 attached tothe frame 127 and so adjust the height of the assembly 105 depended onthe control of such motor by a pressure-sensitive switch as 139. Theassembly 133 may include a pair of balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and acable 1071 as in U.S. Pat. No. l,233,306 to expedite and facilitate thevertical adjustment of assembly 105. The weight boxes as 106.1 arelocated on diametrically opposite sides of the silo wall 22 forbalancing effect.

A pressure-sensitive switch 139 contacts the silage mass 21 below theassembly 105 and, maintains the lower edge of auger 121 in contact withthe mass 21 by lowering the frame 127 when the thereby sensed pressurefalls; it thereby maintains the auger in effect contact with the silage.The pressuresensitive switch serves to activate a lifting mechanism asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,056. The weight of the silagegatheringassembly 105 is borne on the silage mass 21 in the silo chamber 30 andits discharge end is operatively connected to the inlet of the interiorof tube 103.

The ballast assembly 104 comprises a weight 117, a flexible cable 118,an upper pulley 119, and a lower pulley 120, all in operativecombination and supported on the silo wall 22. The flexible cable 118 isattached to the bottom portion of the tubing 103. Pulley 120 is firmlyyet rotatably supported below the bottom of straight portion 112 of tube101 on one end of an adjustable arm 114.1 on a frame 114. The fixed endof the frame 114 is firmly attached to the wall 22 as by the hoops (as74) on the wall 22. A frame also is attached to the lower end of portion112 of tube 101 and serves to position the lower end of portion 112relative to the inlet of separator 107. The support for and the pulleylocate one end of cable 118 within the lumen of portion 112 of the tube101. Thereby cable 118 is freely movable in portion 112 of tube 101.Pulley 119 is firmly yet rotatably located near the top of wall 22. Itis preferably attached to a portion of wall 22 or to hoops thereof as 73and 74.

One end of cable 118 is attached to the lower end of tube 103 near itsexterior orifice 116: the cable 118 extends therefrom to the pulley 120,travels around the pulley 120 and extends to and over the upper pulley119 and thence to the weight 117. The weight 117 is vertically movableand constrained to a vertical rectilinear path by guides therefor as117.1 on wall 22. The weight of the weight 117 is as great as the entireweight of the tube 103; thereby the weight 117 serves to urge end 116downwards of tube 112 and maintain tube 103 parallel to tube 101 whenthe assembly 105 is in its uppermost position. Because the weight andcable 118 provide a force continually urging and keeping the lowerorifice of the tube 103 in its lowermost position, and keeps tube 103extended within tube 101, the inner pipe 103 slides smoothly in theouter tube 101. Accordingly, regardless of the height of the assembly105 the tubing 103 is always kept parallel to tube 101 and convenientlyand efficiently provides for adjustment of tube 103 relative to tube 101and expedites discharge of the silage from the mass 21 through the augerassembly 105, thence upwards through tubing 103 and tube 101 and outwardand downward via tube 101 to separator 107 and to the receptacletherefor, 109.

The unloader assembly 150 comprises a discharge conduit assembly 152and, operatively connected thereto at one, inlet, end thereof asilage-gathering assembly 155 and the other, discharge end of thatconduit assembly a solid-gas-separator assembly 157 and a fan assembly158.

The conduit assembly 152 comprises a rigid fixed discharge tube assembly160 exterior to wall 22 and a telescopically movable interior intaketube assembly 170. This assembly 150 does not require a ballast assemblyas 104 in assembly 28; except for slowly rotating frame 157 and auger121 there are no moving parts in this embodiment.

The discharge tube 160 assembly is composed of rigid smooth tubingfirmly and positively kept open by the stiffness of the wall structureand composition thereof. It comprises, in series, a first, rigidstraight inlet portion 161 that is located in part interior of the siloroof and extends along the central longitudinal axis of wall 22 frombelow and upwards through the transition plate 89 and is fixed thereto;a rigid smoothly curved acute bend portion 163; a rigid straightdownwardly and outwardly sloped portion 164; a rigid smoothly curvedlateral obtuse bend portion 165 and a straight vertical portion 166, alower right-angle bend portion 167, and a straight transition portion168. The portions 161168 are attached in an airtight serial fashion toeach other and are, through element 161, operatively continuous with theportion 170.

Separator 157 is identical in structure to the separator 107 and has adischarge orifice 113' located as is orifice 113 about feet above theground for discharge into a receptacle 109 such as a truck, thisdischarge opening is, accordingly, located relatively near to the bottomof the silo as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Portions 161-166 may beregarded as a rigid U-shaped member, one vertical rigid arm, 161, ofwhich is firmly attached to plate 89 in the center, the other verticalarm 166 located exterior of the wall 22 and is firmly attached thereto.

Tube assembly 170 is an airtight yet telescoping unit made of a seriesof rigid tubular elements 171-179; its lower most element, 171, ismovable upward into element 172; 171 having an outer diameter somewhatsmaller than the inner diameter of 172; the outer diameter of element172 is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of element 173; theouter diameter of element 173 is somewhat smaller than the innerdiameter of 174. As shown in FIG. 8 each lower element 177 at its topedge has a rigid shoulder 181 that is firmly attached to and projectslaterally from its outer wall surface 192 to loosely contact the innersurface 193 of tubing 178 with a freely slidable or loose fit. Eachupper element as 178 bottom part has a rigid annular collar that isfirmly attached to and projects inwardly from its inner wall surface 193to loosely contact the outer surface 192 of tubing element 177 with afreely slidable fit.

The bottom surface 195 of collar 181 is flat and smooth and hard; thetop surface 196 of collar 183 is flat and hard and smooth. Thesesurfaces 195 and 196 overlap at bearing sur face 197 and areperpendicular to the central vertical longitudinal axis of unit whichaxis is the central longitudinal axis ofall elements (171-179) ofunit170.

The size of the collar and shoulder as 183 and 181 of each pair ofelements 177 and 178 in unit 170 is such that surface 197 forms acomplete seal between the outside of the lower tube as 177 and theinterior of the upper tube as 178.

The outer surface of a resilient airtight long hollow cylindrical orannular seal as 185 having a smooth soft interior surface 191 is firmlyfixed to the inner surface of lower end of each upper and outer tubularelement as 178; the interior surface of each such seal as 185 engagesthe outer surface of the lower inner tubular element as 177 extendingtherebelow in the extended position of telescoping unit 170 with afreely slidable fit as shown in FIG. 8. This seal 185 is formed ofbelting and, on operation of the fan 108 as below described, aneffectively airtight seal between each of the pairs of ends of the unit170 is formed; each such pair is formed of the upper end as 187 of alower element as 177 and the lower end as 188 of an upper element as178. The rubber belting does not scratch the thin outer wall of thelower tubular elements (as might lead to later collapse) as ittelescopes into the upper element, and, because there is space betweenthe inner surface 191 of seal 185 and the outer surface 192 of the lowerelement 177, there is no jamming action between any of the tubularelements (as 177 and 178) of unit 170 as assembly 155 is moved upward inchamber 30; there is no twisting of the elements of unit 170, because ofthe rotation permitted on bearing surface as 197 between shoulders as181 and collars as 183, between each of adjacent tubular elements (as171-179) of unit 170 as assembly 155 moves in its circular path inchamber 30 as well as because of the rotation permitted the entire unit170 relative to assembly 155 by swivel joint 169 therebetween and by theswivel joint 168 between unit 170 and the frame 80, and there is nohindrance, by the assembly 170 acting as a tension member, to the smoothdownward movement of assembly 155 as it removes the silage 21 from thechamber 30.

The very dusty atmosphere within a silo provides that, when fan 108starts operating the fine dust within the silo as well as that stirredup by the action of the auger of assembly 155 gathers in the spaces asbetween the surfaces 191 and 192.

A rigid annular band 194 is firmly attached to and encircles the bottomend 188 of each upper outer tube element as 178 to reinforce it.

In embodiment 20, cable 118 extends vertically through a verticallyextending chevron seal 97 provided with an adjustment nut 98 and asubstantially airtight seal is formed, even when the assembly 105 movesdownward in chamber 30, between that seal and the cable 118 duringoperation of the fan 108; when the fan is shut off as when the assembly105 is moved upwards vertically by lifting assembly 133, the adjustmentfor the seals is relieved and cable 118 is freely movable in that seal,especially due to the weight 117.

Swivel joint 69 of assembly 20 (shown in FIG. 3) comprises an upperremovable ring 53, a lower ring 54 and a series of vertical spacing bars55 therebetween and firmly attached thereto forming a circular cage 56.A flexible airtight crenated rubber sleeve 57 shaped like a cylindricalbellows is compressed between bottom of ring 53 and 54 within bars 55and is joined at its bottom to top of ring 54. Ring 54 is attached tohood 129 and is coaxial with 170. A cylindrical tongue 52 ex tendsalmost to ring 54 from a ring 51 at lower end 102 of element 171; ring51 extends laterally under ring 53 and slides thereon, the interior ofsleeve 57 is a moss-type rubber with a slippery surface whereby thesleeve 57 fonns an airtight yet rotatable fit with tongue 52 when fan108 operates.

The joint 169 in assembly 150 (shown in 1 105.41 and 7) and joint 16% onassembly 150 have the same structure as does joint 69 of assembly 100.Joint 169 thus permits rotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 155while maintaining an airtight seal of that joint and joint 1611 permitsrotation of assembly 170 relative to assembly 160 while maintaining anairtight seal at that joint. Sleeve 59 is coaxial with ring 54 andattached thereto.

Additionally the topmost unit, 179, of assembly 170 is movably supportedin frame 30 along a pair of rails forming platform 37. Joint 163 isrotatably and removably attached at its upper end to element 161.Element 161 is firmly attached to plate 09. A rotating distributorelement 159 is also located movably on platform 87. According to thisinvention the joint 163 may be released from tube element 161 and movedas shown in F169 to one side on platform 87; the distributor 159 may bethen moved in place under the bottom opening of element 161 as shown inFIG. 9. The lifting mechanism 133 (acmated by control assembly 3441) maythen raise the assembly 155 upwards in chamber 30; above the height ofring 331 assemblies 155 and 170 are out of the path 1419 of materialpassing from the tube 161 and distributor 159 to lower portions of thesilo chamber 30.

Assembly 155 comprises, in operative combination, an auger 321, an augerdrive motor 323, a wheel drive motor 326, a wheeled frame 327 and alifting mechanism 133, all attached to frame 327. Frame 327 comprises arigid hood 229, an outrigger frame 337, a lateral elongated frame 333firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 and a central diametralframe 334! attached to the central portion of hood 229. Wheels 332' and332" are rotatably attached to frame 333 and are supported thereon torotate in a plane perpendicular to the length of auger 321. Hood 329 isa rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transverse cross section, and opendownwardly to the silage 21 and firmly attached to frames 333,331 and337. Roller 330' contacts the inner surface of wall 22 and is rotatablyyet firmly attached to the lateral end of hood 229 for rotation about avertical axis. Assembly 150 rests, by wheels 331', 331", 332', 332" and341 on the silage mass 21. The auger 327 is supported at its ends on thesides of the frame and operatively contacts the silage therebelow, theauger is connected to and driven by a sealed electric (or hydraulic)motor 323. The motor operates the auger to drive the silage from the topand lateral portion of the mass 21 into the inlet of the conduit 170 (inthe same manner as auger 121 drives the silage therebelow centrally).The motor 326 is operatively connected to and drives wheel 331".

The outrigger frame 336 comprises, in operative connection, a heavyrigid compression rod 339, and a light yet rigid tension rod 333, aroller 340 and a wheel 341; rod 338 is centrally firmly attached to theright side of hood 329 near the center of the hood and is laterallyfirmly attached to lateral end of rod 339. Wheel 3410 is a soft rollerrotatably supported at the lateral end of rods 339 and 339 and rotatablycontacts the interior of wall 22 at a point about 90 away from thatpoint at which roller 330' contacts wall 22. Wheel 3411 isrotatablyattached to the lateral junction of rods 333 and 339 andcontacts the top of silage mass 21 and rollably supports the lateralportion of outrigger frame 334 thereabove. A pressure sensitive switch139' as 139 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,007 is firmly attached to hood 229and in a preferred embodiment is operatively attached to a liftingmechanism 133 such as described in US. Pat. No. 3,407,007is attached toframe 80 and hood 229. Pressure control switch 139' of the assembly 155contacts the silage as 21 below the assembly 1155 and actuates thelifting mechanism 133 to lower or raise unit 155 as above described forunit 105 and serves to keep the assembly 155 in effective,silage-removing contact with the top of the silage mass 21 in the silochamber 30. The discharge end 323 of the hood 329 assembly 155 (as isalso the case with the discharge assembly of the unit 105 abovedescribed) is located in the vertical center, i.e. the longitudinalaxis, of the cylindrical chamber 30. Accordingly, the location of thetelescoping assembly 170 is maintained along that longitudinal axisnotwithstanding the circular motion of the assembly 157. The rapid flowof air through the closed conduit assembly 152 provides for movement ofthe silage through the assembly 160 and 170 to the separator subassembly197. Assembly 133 includes a lifting mechanism generally as shown in US.Pat. No. 2,445,056; a motor as 137 on platform 97 serves to raise orlower cable as 1 311 and 133 attached to the frame 229 and so adjust theheight of the assembly 155 depending on the control of such motor by apressure-sensitive switch as 139'. The assembly 133 may include a pairof balancing weight boxes as 106.1 and a cable 107.1 of embodiment 20and as in US. Pat. No. 1,233,308 to expedite and facilitate the verticaladjustment of assembly 155.

In operation of unit 155, motor 326 drives peripheral wheel 331" totravel in a counterclockwise direction (as seen from above) on the topof the silage 21; concurrently, the motor 323 drives auger 321; auger321 contacts the upper surface of silage 21 and moves the silagecentrally toward portion 328 of hood 329; the reaction of the silage onthe auger urges the outer end of the frame 327 and wheel 330' thereonradially (i.e. laterally) toward the wall 22, (as the reaction on auger121 illustrated in HO. 3 for assembly also occurs on auger 321 ofassembly shown in FIG. 7).

The resistance of the silage to the central movement of the auger 321urges the central end of the frame 327 in the direction opposite to thedirection of travel of the peripheral wheels; the rigid arm 339 attachedto frame 334 and tension arm 333 attached to arm 339 and hood 327resists such motion when the wheel 330', at the peripheral end of theassembly 150, contacts the interior of wall 22 as it does during usualoperation of assembly 1155. Assembly 155 has a length from outer end ofwheel 330 and from outer end of wheel 340 to the center of itsattachment to the lower end of conduit assembly which is one half of thediameter of the chamber 30: these geometric relations and theabove-mentioned radial reaction or thrust on the auger during centralmotion of the silage effected by that auger and the action of arms 339and 333 continuously, automatically and smoothly locate the bottom endof conduit assembly 170 vertically below the center of roof frame 30 andplate 89, which centers lie on the central longitudinal axis of thevertical cylindrical wall 22 of the silo. Accordingly, when the assembly151) is located in the silo chamber 30 it automatically moves to aposition in which the discharge end thereof, 329, open to tube assembly170 is on the center axis of the cylindrical silo chamber and the lengthof auger 321 extends along a radius of such cylindrical chamber. Thisprovides a minimum variation of path of silage upward through conduitassembly 170 and also avoids any sudden changes of position and stresson that conduit and the portions thereof.

Dimensions of a particular embodiment of apparatus 40 are given in Table1.

Dimensions of an embodiment of apparatus as in apparatus 20 are given inthe aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,407,007; the units 169,157,158 forapparatus 20 hereinabove described are as in embodiment 10.

in embodiment 10 a control station 3 16 is operatively connected to astandard electrical power source 3416 matched to motors 133, 323 and 326and by line 335 to motors 323 and 326 and by line 3415 to motor 156 forfan 159 and by line 3413 to motor 137 so as to readily start and stopand control the operation of apparatus 40. Thereby the fan 158 cancontinue to act for a short time while motors 323 and 326 are haltedpreparatory to stopping the operation of the apparatus 410 or startingit after a period of no operation. This procedure avoids any dropping"of silage on a fan with consequent motor overload and burnout. Similarlya control station 344' in embodiment 20 is operatively connected by line135 to assembly 105, by line 137' to unit 137, by line 158 to fan motor156; and to its power source 3416.

The door assemblies 60, 61 and 62 in wall 22 correspond exactly instructure to the airtight door assemblies (160, 161, 162) of theaforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,407,007.

The upper discharge conduit 106 of separator 157 is connectcd to theintake of fan 158; fan 158 is operatively connected to and driven bymotor 156.

TABLE I thickness 26 gauge, perimeter 110, thickness perimeter 26 gauge,

thipkness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeter 172, Length 10'0",

171, Length 100',

Vs 185, Height 8", thickness .150 (3 ply belting) 181, Length 1%",thickness 3 1 183, Length 1%", thickness 72,," 194, Length 1%",thickness 9 thickness 26 gauge, perimeter thickness 26 gauge, perimeterA vertical sleeve 58 of the same interior diameter as element 170 inembodiment 40 and the same interior diameter as 103 in embodiment 20 isfixed at its bottom to the top of plate 54; sleeve 58 extends toslightly below inner edge of ring 51. The inner edge of ring 51 iscircular and coaxial with and attached to the lower end of element 171in embodiment 40 and is coaxial with and attached to the lower end ofelement 103 in embodiment 20. Tongue 52 is cylindrical and attached tothe bottom of the outer circular edge of ring 51, an coaxial with ring52. In embodiment 40, ring 54 is attached to hood 329 above end 328thereof and directly above orifice 349 in hood 329.

in operation of the apparatus 40 arranged as shown in FIG. 7, with amass of conventionally comminuted silage, 21, in chamber 30, the motors326 and 32 1 of the silage-gathering means 155 and 156 for fan 158 areactuated by an operator at control center 344. The assembly 155 thenrotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6 and moves radially untilwheels 330' and 340 contact the interior wall 22. This movement ofassembly 155 serves to locate the central portion 328 of assembly 155vertically below the center or roof 26 and the downwardly projectingportion of element 161 and swivel assembly 168.

The bottom edge 348 of discharge end portion 328 of assembly 155 extendsto a height above the height of the bottom edge of auger 321 and forms agas-entry orifice 349. When fan 158 is actuated gas flows throughorifice 349 upward through hood 329 past the auger 321 and upward to andthrough assembly 170. The cross-sectional area of orifice 349 is, whenauger 321 engages mass 21 at the height controlled therefor by switch139', 10 percent greater than, and is usually 5 percent to 20 percentgreater than. the horizontal transverse cross-sectional area of thebottom element 171 of assembly 170. This relationship providesanincreased acceleration and velocity of the gas passing upward fromsurface of mass 21 to assembly 170. The location of the inlet of the fan158 at the discharge end of assembly 160 provides a lower gas pressureinteriorly of hood 329 and within assemblies 170 and 160 than exteriorlyof hood 329 and within the chamber 30. The gas moving from chamber 30through orifice 349, (because of the differential in pressure) mixeswith the silage gathered and moved centrally by auger 321 and forms agas-silage mixture. The gas moving upward from orifice 349 to assembly160 moves the mixture vertically upward into assembly 160 and, as fan158 is located at the discharge end of assembly 160, the gas-silagemixture is moved upward along assembly 170 in a straight vertical lineof travel into assembly 160, therethrough, and therefrom into separatorunit 157. The line of travel along unit 170 is stable because the unitlocates, as above described, and keeps the bottom end of the unit alongthe central vertical longitudinal axis of the silo chamber 30. In unit157 the silage is separated from the gas in the conventional manner ofsolid-gas separation in a cyclone separator, such as separator 157. Thesolid comminuted silage is discharged from orifice 113 and collected andthe gas is drawn into the inlet of fan 108; gas is discharged from theoutlet of fan 108. The straight path of line of travel of gas and silagemixture along unit 170 is continuously maintained notwithstanding themotion of unit 155 and the passage of the series of portions of silagefrom mass 21 passed via unit 155 to unit 170 because of the dimension ofand automatic self-centering action of the unit 155 which keeps unit 169located in the center of chamber 30.

During the passage of the gas-silage mixture upward of assembly 170 thegas pressure in the mixture decreases smoothly, is. in anondiscontinuous manner, because of the continuous straight path oftravel through the straight unit 170 and the location of lowest gaspressure at the discharge end of unit 160. Because of the srnall (5/8inch) increase in diameter for each unit length of element l 1 feet) inrise along series of elements forming unit 170, there is no developmentof a teeter column of silage and gas within column 170. The contrary,the power input fan 158 provides for an increased velocity of thegas-silage mixture from its rest location at the top of silage 21 to thepassage thereof into assembly and therethrough to unit 157. Because ofthe increasing suction or vacuum or, otherwise expressed, because of thedecrease in absolute pressure, along conduits and 160 towards unit 157there is an increasing velocity of the gas mixture during the passagethereof from hood 328 to separator 157.

When a portion of the contents of silage 21 in chamber 30 has beendischarged, power to motors 325 and 326 may be discontinued and power tomotor 156 for fan 158 continued until no further discharge from orifice113' is observed. This procedure leaves the interior of unit 150 emptyand permits restarting unit 155 as above described without anyaccumulation of silage at the bottom of unit 170 that would preventready restarting of the discharge from unit 155.

The gas pressure relations along units of assembly 100 and velocityrelations of the mixture of gas and silage through units 100 and 107provided by fan 108 in the operation of embodiment 20 for the silagegathered by auger 121 and passed to units 103 and 101 are the samerespectively, as above discussed for the gaspressure relations alongunits of assembly 150 and velocity relations of the mixture of gas andsilage through units 150 and 157 provided by fan 158 in the operation ofembodiment 40 for the silage gathered by auger 321 and passed to units170 and 160.

We claim:

1. A silo-unloading'means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof,comprising: silage-gathering means, air pump means for impelling silagethrough said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, framemeans, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, alloperatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being opcrativelyconnected to the pump,

said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movabletube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending,tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connectedto the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tubebeing rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means.

said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedlysupported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward andadjacent to the side of the silo and a second portion. said secondportion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced fromthe side of the silo near the bottom second descending tube and whereinsaid first tube comprises a vertical series of vertical telescopingtubular elements. the lower of each of said series of elements having asmaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the adjacentelement upward thereof.

2. A silo-unloading means for a silo comprising a wall and a roof,comprising;silagegathering means, air pump means for impelling silagethrough said silage-gathering means and a solid-gas separator, framemeans, frame support means and a closed discharge conduit assembly, alloperatively connected, said discharge conduit assembly being operativelyconnected to the pump,

said discharge conduit assembly comprising a first, ascending, movabletube attached to said silage-gathering means, and a second, descending,tube, one end of said first, ascending tube being operatively connectedto the second, descending tube; and the other end of said first tubebeing rotatably attached to said silage-gathering means,

said second, descending, tube comprising a first portion fixedlysupported in part to said silo and extending downwardly toward andadjacent to the side of the silo and the second portion, said secondportion extending from the top of the silo to a position displaced fromthe side of the silo near to the bottom thereof and operativelyconnected to said solid-gas separator, said solid-gas 3. Apparatus as inclaim 2 wherein the first ascending tube is movably supported on saidframe means and is rotatably and removably connected to said secondtube.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said silage-gathering meanscomprises, in operative combination:

an auger, an auger drive motor, a wheel drive motor, a

wheeled frame, said wheel frame comprises a rigid hood, an outriggerframe, a lateral elongated frame firmly attached to the lateral end ofthe hood and a central diametral frame attached to the central portionof said hood, wheels are rotatably attached to the lateral frame and aresupported thereon to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the length ofsaid auger, said hood is a rigid elongated shell, C-shaped in transversecross section and open downwardly and firmly attached to said outrigger,lateral and central frames, a roller to contact the inner surface of asilo wall is rotatably yet firmly attached to the lateral end of saidhood and supported thereon for rotation about a vertical axis,

said outrigger frame comprising, in operative connection, a

compression rod, and a tension rod, a soft roller and a wheel; saidtension rod is centrally firmly attached to one side of said hood and islaterally firmly attached to lateral end of said compression rod, saidsoft roller is rotatably supported at the lateral end of said rods torotatably contact an interior silo wall said outrigger frame extendingfrom said central portion of said wheeled frame substantially at rightangles thereto.

